Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism

Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning

J o u r n a l h o m e p a g e: http://jssp.reviste.ubbcluj.ro

Investigations on Some Induced Risks to Tourism Infrastructure within the Resorts of

Attila PETELEY1 1 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Gheorghieni Branch, E-mail: [email protected]

K e y w o r d s: tourism infrastructure, modernization, effects of risks, neglecting and resorts

A B S T R A C T

In this paper I considered to investigate two important aspects regarding some risks that are affecting tourism infrastructure as well as the tourism flow in the resorts of Harghita County. The investigations are based on direct field observation and comparison in time of changes induced by human activities. Carrying out these activities, which tend to become risks, can disturb, modify, or have a negative impact on the visitors’ experiences in tourism resorts in Harghita County. In what human activities are concerned, in this paper I will focus mainly on two aspects: one of them is based on risks generated by modernization activities on local infrastructure within resorts and the effects that these works generate as they are carried out. These maintenance or development works to the drinking water supply system, or the sewage water system, the maintenance of the electricity or special cable transports like cable television, telephone and internet, or the modernizing of transport infrastructure (roads), disturb tourism flows, affect the general aspect of the landscape and produce discomfort to visitors. The other aspect that I observed referes to human neglection, resulting in the degradation, partial or total destruction or even total loss of components of tourism infrastructure. Underlining local authorities’ carelessness in a certain sector shows that they do not pursue or plan correctly the timeline and the way in which modernisation activities are carried out within resorts.

1. INTRODUCTION their natural resources, attracting factors, air quality, and according to mineral water springs [1]. Tourism is one of the fastest growing Another pioneer in territorial arrangements industries, and it has proven that it is one of the most and planning within Romanian tourism resorts is P. vulnerable economic sectors in our country. Its Cocean (1992), who studied and classified resorts and vulnerability comes from its outmost importance in their components according to their use. According to several settlements in Harghita County, where it him, the sum of the natural conditions need to be represents the main income source of many family run considered as the founding elements of all tourism firms. Resorts in Harghita County have been thoroughly activities, as their visual beauty triggers the tourism studied by several scientists, amongst whom we flow [2]. mention the works of N. Ciangă (1998), who studied all In this paper, in order to be able to present the resorts in the Eastern Carpathians, and laid the some aspects on the possible risk factors that can foundation of several other studies on this region. He influence tourism flow, we need to understand how any studied them according to their geographic location, work can be carried out. First we need to know how any Attila PETELEY Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, Special Issue, no. 2 (2013) 347-352 work can be implemented. These are regulated by law, municipality, Lacu Roşu resort, which belongs and all start from a P.A.T.N. (National Territorial administratively to , and is 35 km Arrangement Plan) from which the P.A.T.Z. (Zone eastwards, Izvorul Mureşului is governed by Voşlobeni, Territorial Arrangement Plan) is derived. This latter one and Băile Homorod are governed by Vlăhiţa. Single is reduced and tailor-made into a P.A.T.J. (County governing units are only Băile Tuşnad, resort, Territorial Arrangement Plan). The local development and . As it is shown, in four cases the territorial planning than it is derived from the P.U.G. (the General planning and infrastructure development decisions are Urbanism Plan), with its regulations, and then it is cut taken in other towns, then in the resorts themselves. to the P.U.Z. (the Zone Urbanism Plan) and its To ensure constant improvement of services, regulations and then to the P.U.D. (the Detailed modernization is a necessity. Depending on the local Urbanism Plan). All these documents include budget and on entrepreneurs’ involvement in the region regulations which refer to the protection of natural the dimension and aspect of development projects resources and of environment, to social and economic change. These projects may include infrastructure development, etc. [3]. modernizing (rehabilitating roads and streets, drinking water supply systems, sewage water systems, electricity 2. THEORY AND METHODOLOGY supply systems, special transport systems – cable television, telephone and internet –, transport on cable After understanding how development plans or modernizing tourism infrastructure units like are put into action, for the elaboration of the fallowing swimming pools, housing units, etc.). material I used data obtained during several trips I took As a result we need to see why these necessary to each location, and while collecting data, I came activities can turn into risks for the visitors. across a series of elements, that I would like to present Development works are carried out by the local in the second part of this paper. I have structured my authorities mostly between the middle of spring and paper into two main chapters. One of them deals with mid autumn. In most if not in all cases this represents elements that need to be done differently during the tourism season for those resorts. Considering the development and maintenance works on infrastructure landscape and surroundings in which the resorts are within the resorts of Harghita County. Direct located, we can say that most of the resorts are in the observation combined with statistical data on overnight mountainous area, and every one of them are all season stays (from the National Institute of Statistics) led to a resorts, while one of their high seasons is during series of results and effects that are shown in chapter 3 summer. [4]. The second aspect refers to presenting the decay of The companies that win the organized auctions several tourism infrastructure elements within some for the execution of the projects carry out their activities resorts, which are fighting with serious economic and in accessible and appropriate weather conditions. All tourism decay (see chapter 4). this is fine, regardless of the tasks that they will perform for the benefit of the resort, but we need to know, that 3. MODERNIZING WORKS INFLUENCE in all resorts, soil is mostly frozen between late TOURISTS’ LEISURE EXPERIENCE November and early May and this means that working with frozen soil is very difficult and can present higher Development and constant improvement is a wear rate for the equipment that is used. This is why all goal, which all resorts consider necessary when they set companies, which deploy modernizing activities, carry their targets. These targets are set usually for certain out their jobs in the period mentioned above. periods of time, and they are discussed on a local, The companies that carry out the tasks want to regional or county level, depending on their impact and work only in the above mentioned period and their on their financial implications. As we all know, presence together with the visitors will not necessarily modernizing infrastructure has a peculiar feature in benefit the economy of the resort. The presence of the Romania. It tends to extend more than it is usually employees, their equipment and noise may and will planned, and usually several new aspects appear, that affect tourist’s mood, experience, and health condition are not counted for. Carrying out these activities tends (fig. 1). to generate risks, considering that they disturb, modify In another aspect, before we see the how, we or have a negative impact on visitors’ experiences in need to know what kind of activities are included in tourism resorts in Harghita County. modernizing infrastructure and which affected in the Local authorities, through their modernizing past four years the resorts in Harghita County. Here we works, influence tourists’ leisure experience. Now, in need to see the projects that were made public by the Harghita County, local authorities are the town halls government, referring to the development and and the mayor’s offices which in most cases are not rehabilitation of the drinking water supply system and located within the same settlement. This is the case of of the waste water system management and a Băile Harghita, which belongs to development plan through the program called

348 Investigations on Some Induced Risks to Tourism Infrastructure within the Resorts of Harghita County Journal Settlements and Spatial Planning, Special Issue, no. 2 (2013) 347-352

“integrated system for rehabilitating water supply and destinations. If tourists are in transit, their time for sewage systems, drinking water treatment systems visiting and sightseeing is planned. If plans are knocked and waste water treatment in settlements with up to over by unforeseen events, such as road works, queues 50,000 inhabitants” [6]. This program included Băile will generate the above mentioned states of behaviour. Tuşnad, Borsec, , Gheorgheni All these leave negative prints with the visitors, (including Lacu Roşu resort), Miercurea Ciuc (including influencing their final experience. This can be even Băile Harghita resort), and Topliţa. This project was measured in the amount of time and money spent planned to be carried out between 2007 and 2011, but within resorts, during difficult transit periods; some of the projects are not finished till today. Other - phonic disturbance is caused by the noise of modernizing projects included the rehabilitation of the machinery that works during day and sometimes transport infrastructure, by asphalting the main roads during night, which affects peace, quietness, and time and streets, by repairing bridges, maintenance work to for rest, recovery or treatment processes or tourists and tunnels and mountain passes, to the electricity supply visitors. The noises produced by these works in system, to the special service system or resort territorial enclosed environments, between high cliffs, in narrow planning activities, which include sidewalks, park passes, and small settlements may be amplified and management, tourism trails, and tourism infrastructure heard over great distances. Like in Lacu Roşu, or in units like swimming pools [5]. Băile Tuşnad, or in Borsec, Băile Harghita or in Băile So far we have discussed the reasons, why Homorod, the distance between the limits of the resort risks may appear in these resorts, and what kind of is small and noise can travel greater distance in activities may induce risks to tourists and visitors. So, in mountain areas. Most visitors come to these resorts to the next part of my paper I point out how these recover, to rest, and to recharge. And they pay for peace necessary “modernizing the infrastructure” activities and quietness, as well as for the good air and splendid are a potential risk to tourists and visitors and how natural environment. Constant loud noise will leave tourists perceive them: serious dents on the entrepreneurs’ revenue; - activities have partial or total effect on - works can cause failure in providing the basic transport infrastructure, affecting accessibility to necessities and supplies like clean drinking water, tourism infrastructure within resorts (through main electricity, sanitation, and silence. Interruptions may roads, side streets, and paths). If there are road works disturb or even shorten tourists’ stay; in or around resorts, for example in Băile Tuşnad or in - if the time of pause in these services extends, Lacu Roşu, where the roads are narrow because of the especially if they occur without a warning or prior relief, considering the period between spring and notice, they can shorten the number of overnight stays, autumn, these resorts are mainly visited in these having serious effects on the economy of these resorts; months of the year. In these cases, during daytime - these causes result in a bad experience and it work, long queues of vehicles can form, leading to will negatively affect the following seasons. Most inconveniences, impatience, restlessness, and anger. All tourists, especially domestic ones tend to return to these frustrating things could be avoided if the works places where they had several pleasant experiences, but would be planned at night, when there are fewer cars in if these risks leave sufficient negative memories, they transit; appear in overnight stay decrease for the seasons to - travelling conditions will get worse. Any road come; construction or maintenance work includes debris and - the unwanted by-products of field-works like waste materials or mud, dirt, and dust. Any of these excessive dust, noise and in some cases mud may affect associated with meteorological conditions like rain, tourists’ health by increasing risk of injury and sickness. wind, or strong sunshine and high temperature Inhalation of dust, the presence of deposits of mud, conditions may add up in reasonable risk factors that dust on clothing are all unpleasant and for people can affect travellers’ health, security, and safety. As we predisposed for illness represent risks that they might all know, working with land can become massy, and if not have already prepared for. As an excuse, local roads and trails are dusty and muddy, they already authorities try to explain and motivate these drawbacks represent a major injury factor. If weather turns bed, by saying that there is no better time for those which may very easily happen in mountain regions, companies to work, or they need to respect the these areas can turn into real challenges and can employed company’s conditions. On the other hand, the represent traps for tourists and locals alike; employed companies and their employees are not - time spent on crossing the region takes instructed properly, how to behave, work, and live on longer due to waiting time on worksites, leading to working sites within resorts. So they do not observe the restlessness, anger, and loss of patience. All resorts are engagements stipulated in the contract of execution, attractions, where tourists come to visit. The question is enforced by the regulations from the P.U.Z., referring to how many of them are in transit or stay overnight. For how they should protect natural environment against some resorts are points of transit, for others they are sound pollution and physical pollution.

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the most obvious fallback was registered in tourism infrastructure level in traditional resorts like Borsec, Băile Tuşnad, Lacu Roşu, Băile Homorod, and Băile Harghita. Some of the main reasons for the degradation of tourism infrastructure units are political incertitude, ownership and property problems, time, and pride. Most treatment units in Borsec, in Băile Tuşnad, in Băile Harghita were affected to the extent that today they are declared dangerous sites, and most probably will be brought down for security reasons. Many villas, cabins, formerly renowned restaurants in Borsec, in Băile Tuşnad, in Băile Harghita, in Băile Homorod, and even in Izvorul Mureşului were abandoned by their owners, because of lack of funds. These are condemned to being sold, but Fig. 1. Sign for modernizing local infrastructure in they are in a deplorable state. Their location and Băile Harghita. Photo taken in August 2011. landscape are major advantages, but they need huge investments to be rebuilt, modernized and reintroduced Though these criteria and conditions are in the tourism circuit. In the past four years we can say stipulated in annexed documents, referring to how that there were some changes in a positive way in all activities should be carried out, most of these are not resorts. taken into account on sites, and most of them are The former glory and fame of Borsec now ignored because of lack of enforcement. Most of the seems to be in reconstruction, the town is being employees are not locals, and their presence can lead to modernized, the owners of the main villas in the resort conflicts between the local population and them. We are asked to rehabilitate their villas, according to their believe that a solution would be enforcing better original look, the resort is revitalized, slowly but surely territorial development strategy planning by the local (fig. 2). authorities, a better engagement plan between the hired companies and the local administration in order to observe promised timeframes, a better enforcement of the engagement criteria, that were set in the contract referring to the protection of the natural environment and of all residents at the moment of execution, as well as trying to reduce any risk elements during modernizing activities. Teams of supervisors should be created, including representatives of both the mayor’s office and of the employed company, to see that works are carried out at a desired pace and that regulations are enforced on the working sites. Adjoined efforts will speed up processes and motivate residents to support by any means possible completion of all works.

4. DEGRADATION OF TOURISM Fig. 2. Hospital in Borsec. INFRASTRUCTURE There is a new treatment complex under The second aspect that I have considered construction and the resort is showing important signs investigating is the status of some of the former tourism of serious restart. But the remains of the past 30 years infrastructure units that were in use, but because of still haunt the image of the landscape. The same can be unclear circumstances, they are no longer in the tourist said about some restaurants, villas, cabins, and other circuit. tourism infrastructure units in Băile Tuşnad, Lacu In time, as political parties replace each other Roşu, Izvorul Mureşului, Băile Harghita, and in Băile in parliament, as corporation interests exceed local Homorod. In the former mining town of Băile Harghita, community needs and interests, when personal there are several abandoned buildings that belonged to interests and political interests become priorities, in the kaolin mine, which was closed in the 1990’s. Harghita county tourism suffered along with other I underlined several areas which show the level sectors of the economy. But in tourism resorts, one of of degradation in which some tourism infrastructure 350 Investigations on Some Induced Risks to Tourism Infrastructure within the Resorts of Harghita County Journal Settlements and Spatial Planning, Special Issue, no. 2 (2013) 347-352 elements are at present. Affected tourism infrastructure because the operators and owners of the salt-pool units show the marks of deep economic regression in closed their unit in high season for renovation. These these counties, combined with political games and kind of decisions can and will influence not just the conflicts between disappeared owners and local income of the operators, but all individuals engaged in entrepreneurs. These units were last used in the 1980’s the tourism industry within a resort. and early 90’s. Only in the last four years some mayor’s offices started to contact and shake up the owners, motivating them to restore infrastructure to their original looks. Still many of these today are sore reminders of a glorious past: - treatment and recovery centres in Borsec, Băile Tuşnad, Harghita Băi, Băile Homorod, and in Izvorul Mureşului are not cared after, and loosing these units means less visitors for these resorts (fig. 3);

Fig. 4. Store & Disco in Băile Harghita.

5. CONCLUSION

All activities have the purpose of improvement. This improvement is achieved in time; nevertheless it could be better planned, carried out, monitored, and perfected. All activities are approved by

Fig. 3. Villa in Băile Tuşnad. the county office, and mayors should monitor the progress of all activities. In the studied county the - accommodation units: Villas (31 in Băile noise-level, the amount of accumulated dust, dirt and Tuşnad, 21 in Borsec, 11 in Izvorul Mureşului, 8 in Băile mud, the crippling of accessibility are by-products of Homorod, and 7 in Lacu Roşu). This means that the upgrading processes or of the maintenance works. tourists who come for treatment need to seek They are not monitored by any specialized purpose alternatives (fig. 4); created team from the mayor’s office, and deadlines are - skiing in Lacu Roşu, Borsec, and Izvorul almost never met. For the residents of these resorts, Mureşului; income is based on tourism flow and on private local - caves near Lacu Roşu, near Borsec, and near and national entrepreneurs’ involvement. The image of Băile Tuşnad became less visited due to destruction, a resort is its magnet today, so if this image is distorted, improper supervision, and unprofessional it is affecting its power of attraction thus influencing maintenance; revenue [2]. It is clear that better judgment is needed - tourists trails; along with better communication between the executing - public baths: in Băile Homorod, in Harghita companies and the representatives of local Băi, in Borsec and since last year the salt pool in Praid; communities. Working together and showing better - public buildings: like the water mill in Băile judgment could lead to long term progress and Tuşnad. economic prosperity for these small communities. During this analysis I have not mentioned The results deduced from the number of Praid resort, because it received its resort title only overnight stays in the last six years show an increase in recently and is in a dynamic development. But with bad the first four years, while during the last two years they decisions and timing of the operators of the salt-pool showed a steady level, the number of overnight stays from the resort, which represented a major attraction remaining the same in all resorts. factor, compensating the function of the salt mine, this This is indicating that road constructions and year, all summer, in high season, the salt-pool was any other major planned development and maintenance closed for renovation and reconditioning. This decision activity is affecting tourism flow while showing that was reflected in this year’s tourism flow. I have come to there is still interest for the region, in spite of all risks. know from operators that they have registered just half These studies need to be continued so that of the usual number of visitors this year, and all this they may help these communities and they need to be 351 Attila PETELEY Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, Special Issue, no. 2 (2013) 347-352 accessible for all parties involved. Now we can see the [3] Surd, V., Bold, I., Zotic, V., Chira, Carmen importance of attentive planning and conscious (2005), Amenajarea teritoriului şi infrastructuri execution for development planning. Tourism is gaining tehnice, Editura Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj- its former glory and fame thanks to unique natural Napoca. environment, although we need to emphasize that [4] *** National Institute of Statistics, sometimes nature recovers faster than people. http://www.insse.ro. Last accessed: December, 12, 2012. [5] *** Aquaprofit Consulting Srl 2009: Strategia de REFERENCES dezvoltare a turismului în judeţul Harghita. Consiliul Judeţean Harghita, Miercurea-Ciuc (red. Nagy B.) [1] Ciangă, N. (1998), Turismul din Carpaţii Orientali, Available at: http://www.hargitamegye.ro/ci/dezvreg Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj-Napoca. /HMTurisztikaiStrategia.pdf. [2] Cocean, P. (1992), Modele de amenajare turistică [6] *** Webpage of the Ministry of Regional a unor regiuni muntoase din România, Studia Development and Tourism. Last accessed: July, 6, 2010. Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai 1-2, Cluj-Napoca.

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